The Different Types of Network Appliance And A Brief Overview of Each
A network appliance is a closed hardware device with a pre-installed software designed to perform a specific function. A router as a lot of people would call it, this kind of appliance can refer to a SOHO (small office/home office) network, a PCI-Express module or an enterprise network or that both homes and offices can use for connectivity requirements. Its collective purpose can be listed as follows: to forward data packets within a computer network, to provide firewall protection and to provide a secure connection to the internet.
SOHO Networks
SOHO networks are essentially LANs or local area networks designed specifically for small organisations and small businesses. It is the same as a standard broadband router that connects multiple computers (it can accommodate 1 to 10 computers only) to one local area network and shares high-speed internet to all connected devices. Like a broadband router, a SOHO network can also share files, printers, voice, fax technologies and other essential work applications to all connected computers. The application of SOHO networks includes load balancing, web filtering, network access control and bandwidth management aside from providing firewall protection and anti-spam and anti-virus defences.
PCI-Express Modules
PCI-Express is short for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. It is a kind of expansion bus or expansion card used for high-speed computer applications. As an expansion bus, it is treated as a primary motherboard where host system processors, peripheral systems and other expansion cards can be connected.
Enterprise Networks
Enterprise networks function like SOHO networks, but the difference lies in the number of computers and other complex systems that it can support. An enterprise network is ideal for corporations with headquarters scattered along regions within and outside its local territories. A corporation can have various data centres acting as a hub for each regional location, and this regional hub can connect computers from different regional branch offices, individual SOHO networks and mobile employees. Aside from the need to invest on costly infrastructures and equipment, enterprise network users should be wary too of the security and reliability of the connections to prevent threats to shared intellectual property.
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